SECOND READING. (Hansard, 26 May 1876)

§ LORD ABERDARE,

in moving that the Bill be now read the second time, said, that the Bill, which had come up from the Commons, was to secure the due administration of the funds of trade union societies. Beside some minor provisions there were two clauses which were most important. One of these was designed to facilitate the appointment of new trustees in case of bankruptcy, or other disqualification. At present it was almost impossible for trustees to divest themselves of their authority, and it was now proposed that when it was desirable to appoint a new trustee the registrar should be authorized, on application in writing from the secretary or three members of the union or branch, and on proof satisfactory to him, to direct the transfer of any stock such trustees might hold in the Bank of England or Ireland on behalf of the society into the names of other persons as trustees. Again, as the law at present stood, if a fraud were practised upon a trade union, the proceedings in summary jurisdiction must be taken in the place where the registered office of the trade union was situated. For instance, if the society belonged to Manchester, the prosecution must be instituted there. The 4th clause proposed to put an end to this anomaly, and enacted that the jurisdiction might be exercised either in the Court of that place, or in the Court of Summary Jurisdiction of the place where the offence was committed. There were certain Amendments which it was thought desirable to introduce in the Bill as it now stood, and, with the view of having those printed, he would move on a future day that the Bill be committed pro formâ.